4x20: Doctor Whom?

[The Virtual Series]

CHARMED: RESET REALITY (A new Alternate Universe series brought to you by Daniel, 4Ever, Drama, Xenith, and a host of others!)

STARRING:



SHANNEN DOHERTY...Prue Halliwell
HOLLY MARIE COMBS...Piper Halliwell
ALYSSA MILANO...Phoebe Halliwell
ROSE McGOWAN...Paige Matthews

CO-STARRING:



BRIAN KRAUSE...Leo Wyatt
JULIAN McMAHON...Cole Turner
DORIAN GREGORY...Darryl Morris
SHAWN CHRISTIAN...Matt Capiello

CHARMED: RESET REALITY is a concept conceived and copyrighted by Daniel Taylor and cannot be copied without his permission.[/i]

Based on the television show "Charmed" created by Constance Burge and featuring characters created by her and Brad Kern.


DISCLAIMER: This is a work of fiction. If we owned Charmed, the last few seasons would be more like this! All characters and locations are fictitious or are used fictitiously. We only own the characters listed as "Original characters" within the credits. All others are products of the old WB and the new CW and belong to them and Aaron Spelling Productions. This work was not written for sale and is meant only to be read by visitors to websites for the fans of the television show, Charmed. [/size]

4.20 DOCTOR WHOM?

GUEST-STARRING:
FINOLA HUGHES
T.W. KING
KRISTA ALLEN
MATTHEW GLAVE
ALASTAIR DUNCAN

Script written by...CAMILLE (FOUREVER CHARMED)

Script edited by...DRAMA (ASSASSIN WITCH)

Script proofread by...CAMILLE (FOUREVER CHARMED), DRAMA (ASSASSIN WITCH), DTAYLOR (FOREVER YOURS)

Executive Producer...DTAYLOR (FOREVER YOURS)

Produced by...Drama, Fourever Charmed, Xenith

Directed by...John Behring

[The Virtual Series]

Doctor Whom?

Teaser[/center]

[Scene: Manor. Hallway. PRUE HALLIWELL has the cordless phone pressed to her ear with one hand and a wet, folded blue washcloth in her other hand.][/b]

PRUE: (into the phone) Yes, they’ve been getting increasingly worse over the past two weeks. (She nods to herself as she comes to a stop at PIPER’s door, which is closed. Gently, she twists the handle and pushes the door open a crack, revealing PIPER HALLIWELL lying on her bed with her eyes closed, with a white washcloth on her forehead. A vacant chair is sitting next to the bed.) That would be so great, thank you.

(PRUE presses the door open and walks into the bedroom as she hangs up the cordless phone. PIPER winces as she opens her eyes, looking a little bleary eyed as PRUE moves to her bed and sits down on a chair.)

PIPER: (whispering) Wh-what did they say?

(PRUE leans across PIPER and carefully peels the white washcloth from her face.)

PRUE: The appointment is at noon.

PIPER: What time is it now?

PRUE: Almost eleven. (She lays the fresh blue cloth over PIPER’s forehead.) Are you feeling any better?

PIPER: It still hurts a little, but it’s definitely subsided. (She closes her eyes again.) You know, this is really an inconvenience…as if demons weren’t bad enough, now I have to worry about migraines too.

PRUE: Shh. (She touches PIPER’s hand.) Don’t get yourself all upset, it’ll only make things worse.

PIPER: I bet it’s stress. (She sighs.) With the whole Gathering Storm revelation, and the worry that our powers could short circuit again without warning, it’s really just put me on edge. Plus, an annual health inspection is coming up next week for P3, so I’ve been going crazy trying to get everything up code and-

PRUE: (cutting in) It’ll be fine, Piper. (She softly squeezes PIPER’s hand and PIPER squeezes back. Then she winces a little.) Do you need anything else?

PIPER: Advil would be nice.

(PRUE smiles.)

PRUE: Coming right up. (She stands up and leaves the room. PIPER breaths in deeply and then emits a little groan.)

[Scene: PAIGE’s apartment. Living room. An incessant knocking is coming from outside the front door. Suddenly PAIGE MATTHEWS races out of her bedroom, her dark hair soaking wet as she tries to dry it with a towel on the way to the door.]

PAIGE: Coming, I’m coming! (She reaches the door and stops, flicking her towel over her hair one more time and then opening the door. An older woman with bluish-white hair and large, wide rimmed glasses is standing outside. Paige looks around, confused.) Mrs. Kennedy?

(The old woman, BARBARA KENNEDY, smiles up at PAIGE.)

MRS. KENNEDY: Oh, good, you’re here. I was knocking so long that I wasn’t sure or not, but I saw that your car was in your parking spot, so… (She leans around, trying to peer into PAIGE’s apartment.) I didn’t interrupt anything, did I?

(PAIGE purposefully blocks MRS. KENNEDY’s view and flashes a fake smile.)

PAIGE: (annoyed) Just my shower. (She moves into the hallway, shutting the door behind her.) Is there something I can do for you?

MRS. KENNEDY: Oh, yes… (She adjusts her glasses.) I was wondering if you’d heard anything more about the rent increase.

PAIGE: Excuse me?

MRS. KENNEDY: You know, the rent increase. (She motions her hands as PAIGE stares, confused.) Well, you did know that the complex was sold, (pause) didn’t you?

[Scene: Bay General. Waiting room. PRUE and PIPER walk in.]

PRUE: Are you sure you don’t want me to wait with you?

PIPER: No, I’m fine. (She waves her hand dismissively.) It’s gone…for now.

PRUE: Well-

PIPER: Prue, I’m in a hospital. If I get another migraine, I’m sure they’ll know what to do. (pause) And besides, I don’t want you being late to work on account of me. (She sits down in one of the waiting chairs.) And we all know that the family emergency excuse is overdone. (She tilts her head to the side.) Look, there’s no point in you missing work when Leo can just pick me up when I get out.

(PRUE sighs.)

PRUE: Fine, but I’m leaving my cell phone on, so I expect to hear from you when your appointment’s over.

(PIPER smiles.)

PIPER: Already done.

PRUE: Okay then, I’ll see you later.

PIPER: Bye. (PRUE leaves. PIPER clasps her hands together and waits.)

[Time lapse. PIPER follows a NURSE into a white hospital room. PIPER takes a seat on the bed and the NURSE jots down a few things on her notepad.]

NURSE: How long have you been having these migraines?

PIPER: Just over the last two weeks.

NURSE: Has anything unusual been going on in your life?

(PIPER smirks.)

PIPER: Depends on your definition of unusual. (The NURSE stares at her. PIPER sighs.) Just extra hours at my job.

(The NURSE scribbles something down and then smiles falsely.)

NURSE: Okay, if you’ll just wait here, the doctor will be with you in a minute. (She leaves. PIPER begins to anxiously strum her fingernails when the door opens again. Surprised, she looks up to see a graying man in a white lab coat.)

PIPER: That was fast.

DOCTOR: I like to be prompt. (He holds out his hand.) Mrs. Halliwell, I’m Dr. Alaster.

(PIPER shakes his hand.)

PIPER: Not to be rude, but where’s Dr. Nicolae?

DR. ALASTER: I’m sorry, she’s unavailable today, so I’m filling in. (PIPER nods and sits back down.) So, what seems to be the problem?

PIPER: I’ve been having very bad migraines lately.

DR. ALASTER: I see. (He moves to her.) Let me try something. (He places his fingertips to the sides of her head.) Does that hurt?

PIPER: No.

(A white glow ripples from DR. ALASTER’s hands and shoots into PIPER's temples. Suddenly, her eyes close and her head drops forward, limply. He lays PIPER back on the bed and smiles.)

DR. ALASTER: That’s good. Now, let's see what we can do about it.

Clickable Credits.

[The Virtual Series]

{SCENE: The song “Dreams,” written by N. Hogan and D. O'Riordan and sung by The Cranberries, is heard as stock shots of San Francisco are shown while the Guest Credits are rolled.}

Act One

[Scene: Outside PAIGE’s apartment. PAIGE and MRS. KENNEDY are still in the middle of a conversation. PAIGE begins to ring her hand towel between her fingers, looking shocked.]

PAIGE: But Irv and Nettie have owned this place for years! (She shakes her head.) When did this happen?

(MRS. KENNEDY looks around.)

MRS. KENNEDY: Well, I hate to be one to gossip, but I heard they were forced to sell so they could bail their oldest son out of quite a gambling debt that he got himself into. (She shakes her head disappointedly.) It’s a real shame what that kind of addiction does to people.

PAIGE: When did they sell?

MRS. KENNEDY: Last month. (She tilts her head to the side, surprised.) They sent everyone a letter.

PAIGE: Well, the only time I didn’t get my mail was…

[Flashback: PAIGE and PHOEBEwalk into PAIGE’s apartment. PAIGE drops a handful of mail on the table and heads for the bathroom. PHOEBE wanders over to the fridge.]

PHOEBE: Do you have anything good in here?

PAIGE: Only what a poor Social Worker’s assistant can buy. (PHOEBE opens up the fridge and begins to rummage through it as PAIGE walks into the bathroom.)

PHOEBE's VOICE: Mind if I have one of your cheese sticks?

PAIGE: Go ahead!

(PAIGE turns on the sink and splashes her face with cool water, then, as she reaches to remove her earrings, she hears a crash. Quickly, she darts back into the living room to find a flower vase broken on the floor, with fresh daisies burnt to a crisp. Across the room, she spies a hunchbacked DEMON with claws instead of hands. Not noticing PAIGE, the DEMON raises its hand and shoots a fireball at PHOEBE, who is now standing next to the table. She levitates into the air and the fireball misses her, instead flying right into PAIGE's pile of mail and burning it up.)

PHOEBE: Uh, Paige!

(The DEMON spins around to see PAIGE. It lets out a primal roar and summons another fireball to its hand. PAIGE thrusts out her palm.)

PAIGE: Fireball! (The fireball orbs into her hand and she sends it back at its creator, vanquishing him. PHOEBE floats to the floor and looks sympathetically at the smoldering clump of ash, previously PAIGE’s mail.)

PHOEBE: I hope there wasn’t anything important in there.

[Cut back to the present. PAIGE groans.]

PAIGE: I guess I didn’t get one. (She bites her lip as she stares at MRS. KENNEDY.) Do you know how much the rent is going up?

MRS. KENNEDY: Three-hundred, if you’ve been here as long as I have… (PAIGE starts to open her mouth, but MRS. KENNEDY cuts her off.) But, since you’ve only been here for four years, yours will be going up five-hundred.

(PAIGE’s mouth drops open.)

PAIGE: What?!

[Scene: San Francisco International Airport. PHOEBE is pacing as hordes of people bustle around her.]

COLE's VOICE: Phoebe!

(PHOEBE looks up to see COLE TURNER coming towards her, pulling a large suitcase behind him. She grins and runs to greet him with a kiss.)

PHOEBE: How was your trip? (She looks him up and down and smiles pleasantly.) Looks like you got a tan.

COLE: I did, didn’t I? (PHOEBE raises her brows.) The firm put me in a beachside hotel. (They start walking.) I wish I could’ve brought you, you would’ve loved it.

(PHOEBE nods.)

PHOEBE: It definitely would’ve been a nice break from demons. (COLE's eyebrows arch and PHOEBE playfully slaps his chest.) Well, most demons anyway. (A cell phone begins to ring and PHOEBE digs into her back pocket, pulling out her phone. She looks at the Caller I.D.) It’s Paige.

(COLE frowns.)

COLE: Great timing for a demon attack.

(PHOEBE presses her fingers to her lips as she flips open her phone one handedly and places it to her ear.)

PHOEBE: Hello? (She squints her eyes as COLE watches her.) Seventeen-hundred? That’s a lot for the little one bedroom that you’ve got. (pause) Well, actually, I’m really kind of busy right now…No, I am off today, but I’m picking up Cole from the airport. We were supposed to spend my day off together. (She sighs.) Well, I’m sorry about that, but I’ve been looking forward to since Cole left. (PHOEBE hangs up.)

COLE: I’m guessing that wasn’t a demon? (COLE stares at her, awaiting an explanation. PHOEBE shoves the phone back into her pocket and groans.)

PHOEBE: No. (She quickens her pace.) She wanted me to go apartment hunting with her.

[Scene: 415 Magazine. Front doors. PRUE walks up with her cell phone snugly positioned at her ear, listening intently to the voice on the other end. She walks inside and her blue eyes catch a slightly geeky looking man atop a ladder, hanging something up on the wall.]

PRUE: (into the phone) Yes, Mr. Corso, I’ll have the captions for those photos typed up within the hour. (As PRUE walks by, the man on the ladder moves slightly to the right and loses his balance. He lets out a yelp as he starts to wobble and fall backwards. Acting instinctively, PRUE whirls around and thrusts out her hand, stabilizing the man until he steadies himself. PRUE lets out a breath of relief as she hangs up her cell.) Marvin, are you alright?

(The man, MARVIN KELLEY, turns around at the sound of PRUE’s voice with a slight rosy blush in his cheeks. He nods sheepishly.)

MARVIN: (stuttering) F-f-fine.

(PRUE smiles a little.)

PRUE: Be careful up there, you wouldn’t want to lose your balance.

(MARVIN nods.)

MARVIN: Yeah… (PRUE walks away and MARVIN exhales deeply. He quickly climbs off the ladder.)

[Scene: Underworld. THE ORACLE’s lair. PIPER is laying on a slab of rock, with her eyes closed. ALASTER is standing behind her head, with his fingers pressed to her temples. A white glow is radiating from his fingers. THE ORACLE appears.]

THE ORACLE: Have you made any progress?

(ALASTER looks up, without removing his hands from PIPER’s temples.)

ALASTER: I haven’t invoked her dream world yet. I’ve been conditioning her mind to put a psychic fog over her powers…all but her ability to cast spells. (He gently rubs PIPER’s temples.) That takes time, but it’s critical if we want her to believe that she never had them.

THE ORACLE: How much longer?

(ALASTER grins.)

ALASTER: Actually, you made it here just in time. I’m waking her up right now…

[Dream: PIPER’s eyes flash open. She looks around, noting that she’s in a hospital room. A vase of fresh flowers is sitting beside her bed. She rubs her forehead.]

PIPER: (whispering) What am I doing here? (Suddenly, DREAM PRUE walks in. She stops short as she sees PIPER rubbing her head. DREAM PRUE gasps and PIPER looks over at her.) Prue! Thank goodness you’re here. (She shakes her head.) I don’t know what happened, I remember going in to see the doctor for my migraines and the next thing I know, I’m waking up here. (When DREAM PRUE covers her mouth, PIPER tilts her head to the side.) What’s wrong?

(DREAM PRUE smiles sadly and moves quickly to her sister’s side.)

DREAM PRUE: I… (She touches PIPER’s hand gingerly.) I’m just so glad you’re awake.

PIPER: Wh…How long have I been asleep?

DREAM PRUE: What’s the last thing you remember?

PIPER: I already told you, going to see the doctor about my migraines. (DREAM PRUE shakes her head, her eyes tearing up a little.) Why are you…what’s going on?

DREAM PRUE: Piper, sweetie, you never went to the doctor about migraines… (She cups PIPER’s hands between her own. PIPER stares at her sister, clearly confused. She pulls her hand back.)

PIPER: Yes, I did. I know I did. (angrily) You were the one who took me, don’t you remember?

(DREAM PRUE lightly picks at her cuticles.)

DREAM PRUE: No, Piper, you were in an accident.

(PIPER’s brows shoot up.)

PIPER: An accident? What accident?

DREAM PRUE: The car crash, Piper. (She takes a deep breath.) You’ve been in an off-and-on coma for eight months.

PIPER: The c-car crash? (She closes her eyes.) Eight months… (She swallows hard and peels back the pink covers of her hospital bed, suddenly revealing her round, eight month pregnant stomach. PIPER gasps.)

BREAK

[The Virtual Series]

Act Two

[Dream: With tears in her eyes, PIPER tugs up her blue hospital gown and gingerly touches her bare, round belly. She presses a warm palm against it, desperately hoping for it to be real.][/b]

PIPER: But Demitrius-

(Tearfully, DREAM PRUE shakes her head.)

DREAM PRUE: (interrupting) Piper, there is no Demitrius.

PIPER: No Demitrius? (Her eyes widen and she leans up.) I saw him. I fought him, when Paige went to the past-

(DREAM PRUE vigorously shakes her head.)

DREAM PRUE: No, Piper, you can’t think like that! (She rises to her feet.) You have to deal with reality, not your fantasies!

PIPER: Fantasies? (She grabs a fistful of the pink sheets.) What fantasies? What are you talking about?

(DREAM PRUE throws out her arms.)

DREAM PRUE: Magic. (Her blue eyes harden as she stares into PIPER’s brown ones.) It’s not real, Piper. You don’t have powers.

(PIPER starts to scoot back and shake her head.)

PIPER: You’re under a spell. That’s the only explanation. You have to be under a spell. (She grabs the phone that’s sitting on the nightstand next to her bed.) I have to talk to Phoebe. (As she presses the button for the operator, DREAM PRUE moves around the bed and slams her hand down on the button to disconnect the call.)

DREAM PRUE: You can’t call Phoebe, Piper.

PIPER: (challengingly) Why?

DREAM PRUE: Because she’s dead!

[Scene: 415 Magazine. PRUE’s office. PRUE is sitting at her desk, dashing her fingers over the keys on her laptop. Her blue eyes move to the corner of the screen which reads, “1:03 P.M.” She frowns and glances at her cell phone which is sitting on her desk. The door opens and MATTHEW CAPIELLO walks in.]

MATT: I just got done developing the pictures from the SFBC for the Buddhist article. (He walks over to PRUE’s desk and slaps two pictures of a Buddhist shrine down.) I can’t decide which one we should use. (He motions to the first one.) This is a great up close shot and symbolically, the angle is perfect because it makes the viewer feel like he’s being looked down upon by the Buddha. However, (he taps the other picture) we’re got perfect lighting on this one which makes it look peaceful, again great symbolism for Buddhists, and it has a view of the entire shrine.

(PRUE looks at the pictures and then her eyes shift to her cell phone again.)

PRUE: (distractedly) The second one.

(MATT frowns.)

MATT: Are you sure?

PRUE: The article is about Buddhism, not Christianity. (She returns her attention to the pictures and taps the first photograph.) This one, as you already said, is laced with Christian symbolism and if you really want to make this article about Buddism, then you can’t use it. (She pushes the pictures back at MATT.) Gautama Buddha never wanted to become a god.

(MATT nods as he collects his photographs. He starts to leave, when he catches PRUE out of the corner of his eye, picking at her cuticles. He stops.)

MATT: What’s the matter?

PRUE: Why would something be the matter?

(MATT nods his head in the direction of her busy hands.)

MATT: You only do that when you’re nervous. (PRUE stops.) What’s up?

(PRUE sighs.)

PRUE: Piper was supposed to call me after her doctor’s appointment-

MATT: The headaches?

PRUE: Yeah, it was at twelve and now it’s almost ten passed one and I still haven’t heard from her.

MATT: I’m sure she’ll call when she gets a chance. Maybe the appointment ran over?

(PRUE nods.)

PRUE: I guess. I’m just really worried about her. (She shakes her head.) She’s never had headaches like that before. I don’t even know where they came from! I mean, none of the family has ever been prone to migraines, let alone right out of the blue.

MATT: It’s probably just stress.

PRUE: Yeah…that’s what Piper keeps saying too.

MATT: Have you tried calling her?

PRUE: No.

MATT: Maybe you should. (PRUE nods and MATT leaves. PRUE grabs her cell phone and dials PIPER’s number.)

PIPER’s VOICE: Hi, you’ve reached the cell phone of Piper Halliwell. I can’t pick up right now, so please leave your name and number and I’ll get back to you as soon as I can.

PRUE: (into the phone) Piper, it’s me, Prue. I’m just wondering how the appointment went. Please call me back soon. (She hangs up and wrings her hands together.) So much for calling.

[Scene: Bay General. Waiting room. LEO WYATT is sitting in one of the chairs as people bustle around him. His eyes flick to the wall clock which reads, “1:10 P.M.” He frowns before finally standing up and walking over to the front desk. The receptionist looks up.]

RECEPTIONIST: How can I help you?

LEO: My name’s Leo Wyatt, and I was supposed to pick up my wife at one. I was wondering if her appointment happened to run over or something?

(The RECEPTIONIST brings up a program on her computer.)

RECEPTIONIST: What’s your wife’s name?

LEO: Piper Halliwell.

(The RECEPTIONIST quickly types something into her computer and then makes a few clicks with her mouse.)

RECEPTIONIST: She had an appointment for twelve o’ clock with Dr. Ava Nicolae? (LEO nods. The RECEPTIONIST shakes her head.) It looks like she was checked in by the attending nurse, but when Dr. Nicolae went to see her, she wasn’t in her room.

LEO: What? (He swallows uneasily as he looks around.) She hasn’t been here since the nurse took her to her room?

RECEPTIONIST: Not that we know of. (She glances behind LEO at a growing line.) I’m sorry, but I need to help the next in line.

(LEO moves out of the way, not even paying attention to the RECEPTIONIST anymore. He stops suddenly and closes his eyes, trying to sense PIPER. When he opens his eyes again, they’re wide and he looks upset. He quickly makes his way across the hospital, through the electronic doors, and as soon as he’d made it into the parking lot he orbs out mid stride.)

[Scene: Pier 39. Hard Rock Café. PAIGE and her coworker, LILA WRIGHT, are sitting at an outdoor table shaded by a large umbrella. Each are nursing a cup of hot coffee and an opened newspaper is laid out between them. LILA is shaking her head.]

LILA: I still can’t believe they didn’t even have the courtesy to send you a letter! I mean, you’ve been there, what? Three years?

PAIGE: Four. (She takes a sip of her coffee.) My aunt and uncle got it for me as a college graduation gift.

LILA: Well see? That’s my point. You’ve obviously proven yourself to be a good tenant, so I just don’t understand-

PAIGE: (interrupting) I’m sure they didn’t do it on purpose, Lila. (She bites her lip.) I could’ve misplaced my mail or…something. (She strums her fingers.) Anyway, the point is that they’re selling, for whatever reason, and with the income I’m getting-

LILA: (interrupting) Not to mention all those family emergencies.

(PAIGE frowns.)

PAIGE: (annoyed) With everything in general, I just can’t afford that apartment. And you know what? It’s not even worth it! That’s too much for my little one bedroom.

LILA: What about your sisters?

PAIGE: What about them?

LILA: Couldn’t you move in with them?

(PAIGE snorts.)

PAIGE: Are you serious?! (She laughs.) For one, they’re sisters! I’ve seen them get on each others nerves living in the same house together. Two, there’d no privacy at all, which just wouldn’t fly because I’ve become used to living alone for the last four years, not to mention, I grew up an only child…And three, and probably the biggest reason, there is no room even if I wanted to, which I don’t!

(LILA sips her coffee.)

LILA: Oh.

(PAIGE laughs.)

PAIGE: Sometimes, Lila, I just don’t know what you’re thinking.

(LILA’s eyes catch one of the squares on the Want Ads from the newspaper page between them. She suddenly points to the box.)

LILA: Hey, look! There’s one for eight-fifty a month. (She points to the bold print.) They’ve even got a hydrotherapy spa!

(PAIGE shoos Lila’s finger away. She looks over the box and then looks up at Lila, frowning.)

PAIGE: Yeah…it’s also a studio.

[Dream: DREAM PRUE has her hand over her mouth as PIPER struggles relentlessly against two male orderlies.]

DREAM PRUE: Piper! Please stop this, let them help you.

PIPER: You’re under a spell, I know this isn’t real! I know that Phoebe’s alive-

DREAM PRUE: Stop it, Piper, think of the baby! You don’t want to hurt the baby, do you? (For a brief moment, PIPER ceases to struggle and when the orderlies start to loosen their grips, she tries to move again.) Piper!

(A man in a white lab coat walks into the room. His head is turned at first as he moves to the bed with a long syringe between his fingers. The orderlies hold PIPER down to the bed as she fights against them and when the doctor leans over her, she freezes and her face pales as she sees the doctor’s face.)

PIPER: (gasping) D-Dr. W-Williamson?

(DR. CURTIS WILLIAMSON smiles down at PIPER.)

DR. WILLIAMSON: Hello, Piper.

(PIPER's eyes widen as she looks into his face.)

[Flashback: PRUE, PIPER, PHOEBE, and DR. WILLIAMSON are standing in an abandon building. A circular blaze is frozen in front of the sisters.]

PRUE: We’re done playing around. Hit the deck, now!

(PRUE uses her powers on the blade, which unfreezes and flies into the wall where it rebounds and hits DR. WILLIAMSON in the chest. DR. WILLIAMSON pulls out the blade and falls to the ground.)

PIPER: No! (She runs over to DR. WILLIAMSON.) Oh God! Please don’t die! (She starts to cry.) Come on. Look at me, come on, come on. Please don’t die!

[Cut back to the dream. PIPER starts to shake her head.]

PIPER: B-but you’re dead…

(DR. WILLIAMSON shakes his head.)

DR. WILLIAMSON: I’m sorry, Piper, but this is for your own good. (He plunges the syringe into PIPER’s arm and she arches up, letting out a small shriek before everything in her line of vision goes black.)

BREAK

[The Virtual Series]

Act Three

[Scene: 415 Magazine. PRUE’s office. The sound of a printer is going off as PRUE gets up from her chair and moves to stand in front of her printer. The door is wide open. LEO orbs in. PRUE jumps up and moves to the door, shutting it as LEO fully materializes.][/b]

PRUE: Are you crazy? The door was wide open!

LEO: Piper’s missing!

(PRUE stops dead in her tracks.)

PRUE: What?

LEO: I asked the receptionist at the hospital and they said she never met with Dr. Nicolae and then when I tried to sense her…

PRUE: Oh god. (She moves to her desk and picks up her phone, quickly punching in a series a numbers.)

[Scene: Umami. PHOEBE and COLE are seated at a half circle booth at a dimly lit Asian restaurant. A young Korean WAITER is at the table, waiting to take the couple’s order. PHOEBE is still glancing over the menu as COLE looks up at the WAITER.]

COLE: I’ll take the spicy scallop and avocado maki with salmon and Meyer lemon. (The WAITER writes down COLE’s order on his tablet and COLE proceeds to hand the man his menu.) Thank you.

WAITER: (to PHOEBE) And you?

(PHOEBE looks up, frowning a little.)

PHOEBE: Uhm… (She glances at COLE and then back at the WAITER.) I guess I’ll have the vegetarian summer rolls with the creamy peanut dipping sauce and the tangy carrot salad.

(The WAITER nods and then takes both her order and her menu.)

WAITER: Your order will be here shortly.

PHOEBE: Thank you. (The WAITER leaves. PHOEBE turns to COLE.)

COLE: You don’t sound too happy.

PHOEBE: I’m just not used to coming to places like this. (She looks around.) I’m not much of a sushi girl, if you know what I mean.

(COLE smiles.)

COLE: But on the bright side, you did find something vegetarian.

(PHOEBE nods. PHOEBE’s cell phone starts to go off. As people in neighboring booths start to turn around and stare at PHOEBE and COLE, PHOEBE embarrassedly pulls out her cell phone and flips it open.)

PHOEBE: (whispering) Prue, I can’t really talk right now-

PRUE’s VOICE: It’s an emergency!

(The Korean WAITER walks back up to PHOEBE and COLE’s table. PHOEBE covers the mouth piece with her hand as they turn their attention to the WAITER. He frowns as he points to a sign across the room. In large red letters it reads, “NO CELL PHONES!” PHOEBE looks apologetically.)

PHOEBE: Excuse me. (She gets up and hurries towards the front doors, leaving COLE to stare helplessly at the WAITER.)

[Scene: Downtown San Francisco. Old apartment complex. Breezeway. PAIGE, LILA, and a platinum blonde woman with brown highlights and long red nails are standing between two apartment doors. The blonde manager, ROCHELLE, is smacking a piece of gum as she unlocks the door. PAIGE and LILA share a disgusted look behind the woman’s back.]

ROCHELLE: It’s a really nice place. (She struggles with the door before finally kicking it with her shoe, causing it to slide open. PAIGE and LILA wrinkle their noses immediately.)

LILA: It smells like smoke!

ROCHELLE: Oh. (She smacks her wad of gum.) Yeah, the last tenant smoked.

PAIGE: And why is he not living here anymore?

(ROCHELLE waves her hand at the doorway, trying in vain to disperse the odor.)

ROCHELLE: Ten years.

PAIGE: So…he moved?

ROCHELLE: Oh no. (She waves her hand, laughing a little.) He got ten years in jail.

(PAIGE and LILA share worried looks.)

[Scene: Umami. PHOEBE hurries up to her and COLE’s table with a worried look on her face. COLE frowns.]

COLE: What’s wrong?

PHOEBE: It’s Piper… (She shakes her head.) Leo can’t find her.

COLE: She’s missing?

PHOEBE: I’m so sorry, but we have to get back to the Manor.

(COLE looks slightly disappointed but nods anyway and stands up.)

COLE: No, I understand.

(COLE pulls out his wallet and throws two twenty dollar bills on the empty table. They leave just as the WAITER walks up to their table with their trays of fresh food, only to find the money and no customers.)

[Dream: PIPER is sleeping restlessly as she tosses and turns in her hospital bed. DREAM PRUE is at her side, gently stroking her forehead. PIPER starts to drowsily awaken, but is still under the effects of DR. WILLIAMSON’s injection. She sees a bleary outline of DREAM PRUE.]

DREAM PRUE: (soothingly) Shh, it’s just me. (She strokes PIPER’s arm and lightly brushes away a couple of tousled strands of PIPER’s brown hair.) You’re okay, Piper.

PIPER: (drowsily) Prue. (She blinks several times and her image of DREAM PRUE becomes a little clearer.) Wh-where am I?

DREAM PRUE: You’re safe, sweetie.

(PIPER rolls her head to the side, facing DREAM PRUE.)

PIPER: (drowsily) I w-wanna go ho-home.

(DREAM PRUE nods understandingly.)

DREAM PRUE: I know, honey, I know. (She pats PIPER’s arm encouragingly.) And you’ll be able to go home, very soon. (She laces her fingers with PIPER's and squeezes PIPER’s hand ever so gently.) As long as you cooperate with Dr. Williamson.

(PIPER closes her eyes, trying to envision DR. WILLIAMSON.)

PIPER: (drowsily) Dr. William-son…he got…he got…hurt…

DREAM PRUE: Dr. Williamson’s fine, honey. He’s okay. He’s just trying to help you, Piper. We all are. (PIPER opens her eyes again. This time everything is much clearer. She sees DREAM PRUE smiling down at her and looks at DREAM PRUE’s hand, which is entwined with her own. Suddenly, she notices something on DREAM PRUE’s hand. She starts to sit up, but DREAM PRUE pushes her back down.) You need your rest, Piper.

PIPER: (drowsily) But y-your hand. Wh-what’s that on your hand?

(DREAM PRUE looks down at her hand and smiles.)

DREAM PRUE: You notice this every time. (She pulls her hand from PIPER’s and holds it up for her little sister to see. A golden band, encrusted with tiny red rubies and little diamonds, is on DREAM PRUE’s ring ringer.)

PIPER: (drowsily) I-is that Gr-Grams’ wedding ring?

(DREAM PRUE nods.)

DREAM PRUE: Do you remember how I got it, Piper? (PIPER shakes her head. DREAM PRUE lets out a little sigh and nods.) I’m engaged, Piper. (PIPER’s eyes start to get wide.) I wish you could remember. (She draws her finger down the side of PIPER’s face.) The night he proposed we stayed up all night talking about it… (sadly) Even Phoebe was there.

PIPER: (drowsily) M-Matt pr-proposed?

(DREAM PRUE stops stroking PIPER’s face. She looks confused as she stares at her sister and leans back.)

DREAM PRUE: No, Piper, not Matt. We’re just friends… (The door opens and a familiar dark haired man walks in, DREAM ANDREW TRUDEAU.)

DREAM ANDY: Prue, I was at a crime scene when you called. I came over as soon as they gave me your message.

(DREAM ANDY sees PIPER staring wide eyed at him and smiles warmly as he moves to the side of the bed. PIPER blinks as she stares at her sister’s former lover.)

[Flashback: PIPER shoves PRUE out of the way just as a bolt of RODRIGUEZ's electricity flies at them and they fall to the floor. ANDY runs in.]

ANDY: No! (He shoots RODRIGUEZ, but it doesn't phase him. RODRIGUEZ hits ANDY with a bolt of electricity.)

PHOEBE: Andy!

(ANDY sails through the air into the next room and smashes into a glass cabinent, before falling to the floor with the destroyed glass shards all around him.)

[Cut back to the present. The effects of DR. WILLIAMSON's previous injection seem to be waning on PIPER.]

PIPER: (shocked) A-Andy?

[Scene: Manor. Attic. PRUE and LEO are looking through The Book of Shadows. PHOEBE walks in with COLE at her heels. She notice that someone is missing.]

PHOEBE: Where’s Paige?

PRUE: I haven’t been able to get a hold of her yet. I keep calling her cell, but it’s off.

PHOEBE: (to LEO) Can you sense her?

LEO: I know where Paige is, but I can’t go to her right now. She’s around mortals and I can’t risk exposure by orbing in.

PHOEBE: Have you tried scrying?

PRUE: No, we’ve been searching The Book.

PHOEBE: Do you even know what you’re looking for?

(PRUE glances at the ceiling.)

PRUE: No, I was hoping for a little help, but I haven’t gotten any so far.

PHOEBE: Let me try. (She moves to PRUE’s side and starts to turn the pages. Suddenly, she goes taunt and is pulled into a vision.)

[Premonition: PIPER is sitting in a hospital bed, with covers drawn up around her, and DREAM PRUE at her side. She’s got tears in her eyes as she stares down at a yellow writing tablet, which she’s holding in her shaky hands.]

DREAM PRUE: It’s alright, honey. Just breathe. It’ll all be over soon.

(PIPER nods and sucks in a deep breath.)

PIPER: “From whence they came,
return them now,
vanish the words,
vanish my powers.”

(PIPER looks at DREAM PRUE, who nods.)

DREAM PRUE: Keep going, Piper.

PIPER: “From whence they came,
return them now,
vanish the words,
vanish my powers.”

DREAM PRUE: You’re doing great, sweetie. Just once more! (She squeezes PIPER’s hand.) Then we’ll be able to go home.

PIPER: “From whence they came,
return them now,
vanish the words,
vanish my powers.”

(A wind blows around PIPER, rustling her hair and then she falls back onto the bed. The scenery begins to fade. The hospital room fades into an Underworld lair, the bed fades into a slab of rock, and DREAM PRUE fades into ALASTER. A glowing sphere of white light lifts out of PIPER’s chest and hovers in the air. THE ORACLE appears in the room and walks over to the light, PIPER’s powers, and touches her fingers to it, allowing them to absorb into her. She turns to ALASTER.)

THE ORACLE: Thank you. (She raises her hands and ALASTER explodes.)

[Cut to the present. PHOEBE yanks her hand away from The Book of Shadows, revealing small tear marks along the binding of The Book, obviously where something has been torn out.]

LEO: Do you know where she is?

(PHOEBE shakes her head as she examines the tear marks.)

PHOEBE: No, but I just saw Piper banishing her powers.

(PRUE notices the tear marks and gasps.)

PRUE: The spell to vanish our powers…but we burned that!

PHOEBE: It still exists in her memory, Prue.

PRUE: But it has to be said by all three of us.

PHOEBE: She’s not giving up all of our powers, just hers.

PRUE: But how is that supposed to work in evil’s favor? If they have her, why wouldn’t they just…

PHOEBE: I only know what I saw. (She runs her finger along the torn edge.) Prue, go with Leo to get Paige. We’re going to need her help too.

PRUE: What about you?

PHOEBE: I’m the only one who’s seen our demon, so I’m going to try and find him in The Book.

(PRUE nods. She motions to LEO.)

PRUE: (to LEO) Lets go. (to PHOEBE) We’ll be back as soon as we can. (PRUE and LEO leave. COLE walks over to PHOEBE.)

COLE: Is there anything I can do?

PHOEBE: Yeah, help me identify our demon. (She starts to flip through The Book.)

BREAK

[The Virtual Series]

Act Four

[Dream: DREAM ANDY is now sitting in a chair opposite DREAM PRUE, but still next to PIPER’s hospital bed.][/b]

DREAM ANDY: I can’t tell you how relieved I am that you’re finally doing better, Piper. You know you’ve always been like a sister to me, and these last eight months since the accident have just…been hell for all of us.

PIPER: (hesitantly) The accident… (She touches her swollen stomach.) I don’t remember…

(DREAM PRUE lays her hand on PIPER’s and looks at DREAM ANDY as she sucks in a few shaky breaths.)

DREAM PRUE: You and Phoebe were supposed to meet me downtown and we were going to have a girls’ day out to celebrate your pregnancy, just the three of us. But I got called in to do a photo shoot for Mary, who called in sick. So I called you on your cell but you said you were already on your way… (She swallows hard as she begins to squeeze PIPER’s hand.) I guess I must’ve distracted you, because the next thing I knew you screamed and the line went dead.

(Tears are starting to form in PIPER’s eyes. She starts shaking her head.)

DREAM ANDY: You didn’t stop in time for the stop sign and a truck impaled your Jeep… (quietly) It hit the passenger side. (PIPER starts to cry.) Phoebe…She died instantly…She didn’t feel any pain.

DREAM PRUE: You’ve been in and out of a coma off and on since that, Piper. (pause) The doctors say you’ve repressed the crash and have tried to replace it with a fantasy world, like the ones in the stories Grams used to read us when we were little. (She squeezes PIPER's hand again.) They say you feel guilty for Phoebe’s death, so in your fantasy world, Phoebe is still alive and your baby was the casualty.

DREAM ANDY: You’re trying to rationalize what happened and when you can’t, you try to punish yourself by taking away the thing you’ve wanted the most. (His eyes move to her large stomach. PIPER’s eyes follow DREAM ANDY’s. DREAM PRUE’s cell phone starts to ring. She stands up.)

DREAM PRUE: I’ll be right back. (She leaves. PIPER and DREAM ANDY share another long look.)

PIPER: W-what about Leo? (She places her hands protectively around her belly.) Where’s my husband?

(DREAM ANDY emits a hallow breath.)

DREAM ANDY: We’re trying to get him into see you, but they haven’t released him yet.

PIPER: Released him? (panicky) What do you mean? What’s wrong with Leo?

DREAM ANDY: He stayed up with you day and night for several months after the accident, but every time you’d wake up and you started talking about your fantasy world and then slipped back into a coma, it took a terrible strain on him. He eventually fell into a severe depression and about two months ago, we were finally forced to get him hospitalized because he just detached from everything.

(PIPER swipes at the tears running down her cheeks.)

[Flashback: PIPER’s jeep pulls into the South Bay Social Services parking lot. PIPER looks over at the front of the building, just as PAIGE walks out. PIPER waves to her, just as PAIGE screams.]

PAIGE: Piper, look out!

(PIPER turns just in time to see a red car slam into the side of her jeep. The windows shatter and the jeep slides several feet to the right from the impact. The airbags explode, the car horns blare, and black smoke begins to billow from the crash.)

[Cut to back to the dream.]

PIPER: No! (She shakes her head furiously.) No, this isn’t right! It can’t be right, I remember, Phoebe wasn’t in the car.

(The door opens and DREAM PRUE walks in with a smile on her face.)

DREAM PRUE: Piper, I have some people who would like to visit you. (She pushes the door open all the way and steps aside, revealing their mother, PATRICIA HALLIWELL, as she pushes LEO through the door in a wheelchair.)

PIPER: (gasping) Mom?

(DREAM ANDY moves the chairs, making space for DREAM PATTY to push DREAM LEO’s wheelchair right up to the edge of the bed. DREAM PATTY then moves to the other side of the bed and leans down, enveloping PIPER in a hug. After a moment, PIPER wraps her arms around DREAM PATTY, hugging her back.)

DREAM PATTY: Sweetheart, I’m so glad to see you’re awake. (She pulls back and strokes PIPER’s long, brown hair. PIPER’s eyes shift from her mother to DREAM LEO, who is a glow despite his thin, pale, and sunken physique.)

DREAM LEO: Piper… (He reaches out weakly to her.) I-I was so afraid I’d lost you.

(Biting back tears, PIPER takes his frail hand between her own.)

PIPER: I’m so sorry…

[Scene: Downtown San Francisco. PRUE’s BMW X5 parks on the side of a beat up rode, in front of a scummy-looking apartment complex. She frowns as she turns to LEO, who’s in the passenger seat.]

PRUE: Are you sure this is the correct place?

(LEO nods.)

LEO: I know she’s here. (They get out and see some scruffy-looking children watching them from down the street. Looking around, they notice that a lot of people around the area seem to have their eyes on them.)

PRUE: (sarcastically) What a nice welcome party. (As they walk up the street, they notice several cars with tire and/or wheel locks on them. PRUE chances a look back at her black BMW X5, which appears to be fine.) Lets hurry this up, I’m worried about coming back to my car…or lack thereof.

(As they turn the corner and start walking down the pathway towards the apartments, LEO spots PAIGE and LILA in the distance. He points.)

LEO: There they are.

(PRUE waves and PAIGE finally catches sight of them, followed closely by LILA. LILA leans close to PAIGE.)

LILA: (whispering) Isn’t that your sister? (PAIGE nods.) How did they…find you?

PAIGE: Uhh…

PRUE: (to PAIGE) We’ve been trying to call you-

PAIGE: (interrupting) Uh, right! Sorry! (She waves her hands.) I totally forgot that I asked you guys to meet me here. (She steps in front of LILA, sharing a heated look with PRUE and LEO.) Uh, guys, this is my friend from work, Lila. I believe you’ve met briefly when you’ve popped in before.

(LILA smiles a little and shakes PRUE’s and LEO’s hands.)

LILA: Nice to meet you again.

PAIGE: (to PRUE) I’m sure that you’re here because…you found an apartment for me to look at? (She gives PRUE a knowing look and PRUE catches on quickly.)

PRUE: Uh, yes. Actually, it’s a great…apartment. (She grabs PAIGE’s wrist and tugs her forward.) We’ll take you there now.

LILA: Whoa, wait! What about me? Paige, we left my car at your apartment!

PRUE: (urgently) Paige!

(PAIGE digs into her pocket and throws her car keys to LILA.)

PAIGE: (to LILA) Just drive my car back to the apartment and take yours home.

LILA: What about your keys?

PAIGE: I’ll drop by your house with one of my sisters to pick them up.

(LILA nods, still unsure of the situation.)

LILA: O-kay.

PAIGE: Thanks! (PAIGE, LEO, and PRUE hurry off, leaving LILA alone to stare confusedly as they leave. She looks down at the keys in her hands and shakes her head.)

[Scene: Underworld. THE ORACLE’s lair. THE ORACLE is watching as ALASTER presses his fingers to PIPER's temples and massages them, too deep in concentration to notice her. She turns away and waves her hand over her crystal ball. The foggy image clears to reveal PRUE, PHOEBE, and PAIGE chanting a spell in the attic and then they suddenly collapse. THE ORACLE glances over her shoulder at the sleeping PIPER and then back at the unconscious images of PIPER’s sisters in her ball.]

THE ORACLE: An amateur move on your part, Charmed Ones. (Within the crystal ball, she sees herself appear next to the circle of candles. In the crystal ball, she’s holding a power sucking athame, which she proceeds to use on each of the unconscious sisters, absorbing each of their powers.) Soon…Soon I’ll have the power to take what should rightfully be mine.

[Scene: Manor. Attic. PHOEBE turns the page, revealing a hand drawn picture of the demon ALASTER.]

PHOEBE: That’s him!

COLE: Alaster? (His eyes scan the page.) He’s a very dangerous demon, Phoebe. He’s got very powerful psychic powers.

PHOEBE: “Alaster manipulates his victims by trapping their physical bodies in a comatose state and awakening their consciousness in an alternate world that pushes them to the point of insanity, or in some instances, driving them to commit an act in their mental state that will permanently effect or harm the real world.”

COLE: He’s not a particularly high level demon, but he’s usually contracted by high levels because of his unique powers. He’s been known to manipulate his victims into placing very powerful hexes, or undoing them in some cases, and after the victim has been used then they’re most often killed.

PHOEBE: Which would explain him working for The Oracle, who’s right hand to The Source. (pause) I still don’t understand why they would need Piper to give up just her powers, though.

COLE: Focus on what you do know. (He reaches for The Book of Shadows, but The Book shocks him and he jumps back.) Turn the page, Phoebe. See if there’s a spell that could get you into Piper’s mind, right alongside Alaster.

(Suddenly, the pages begin to turn by themselves until they settle on both a send and return spell.)

PHOEBE: “To Begin A Mind Link” and “To End A Mind Link.” (She runs her fingers down the pages.) I need a pen. (She looks around.) I’ll be right back.

(PHOEBE leaves and COLE moves to The Book, but continues to keep a good distance away. PAIGE and PRUE orb in. PRUE sees COLE looking at The Book.)

PRUE: (to COLE) What are you doing?

(COLE looks up.)

COLE: Waiting for Phoebe.

PRUE: Did she find the demon? (Cole nods.) Who is it?

(PHOEBE walks in.)

PHOEBE: Alaster. He’s a psychic badass who traps people in their dreams.

PRUE: Whoa, are we talking Whitaker Berman-style here?

PAIGE: Whitaker Berman?

PHOEBE: (to PAIGE) A scientist performing dream experimentation back in nineteen-ninety-eight.

PRUE: (to PAIGE) He was a mortal who’d found a scientific way to invade people’s consciousness and kill young women who didn’t take kindly to his advances.

PHOEBE: (to PRUE) And no, Alaster’s an actual demon who’s been contracted by, according to my premonition, The Oracle. (PHOEBE finishes copying down the spells.) We’re going to have to do a Mind Link Spell. (She hands the tablet to PAIGE as she moves to the corner of the room, gathering five white candles in her arms.) Paige, has Prue got you up to speed on the situation?

PAIGE: Piper’s missing. (She watches PHOEBE arrange the candles in a circle.) And apparently we’re going to use this spell (she holds up the tablet) to go save her?

PHOEBE: Yes. (PHOEBE stops as she sets the last candle in place.) Where’s Leo?

PRUE: Driving my car home. We thought it would be faster if Paige and I just came straight here.

(PHOEBE nods and pulls a lighter from her pocket.)

PHOEBE: There’s only one thing left that needs to be dealt with.

PRUE: And that is?

PHOEBE: How to find Piper’s physical body after we stop her from banishing her powers. (She turns to COLE.) Do you think you might be able to scout the Underworld for her?

COLE: Sure, anything I can do to help. (PHOEBE moves to him and gives him a quick kiss. COLE shimmers out. She spins back to her sisters.)

PHOEBE: Okay, lets do this. (She lights the candles as PRUE and PAIGE walk over to the circle and together they step inside and take hands.)

PAIGE: Wait, you said this was a mind link spell, right? (PHOEBE nods.) So does that mean we’re not physically going to Piper?

(PRUE and PHOEBE share a look.)

PRUE: I think our minds will just be connected.

PAIGE: So, will we still have our powers?

PRUE: Yes.

PAIGE: How do you know?

PRUE: Because I was one of those women that Phoebe mentioned…the one thing he didn’t count on was that I would be able to throw him over the edge of the rooftop in my dream, with just a squint of my eyes. (She looks from PAIGE to PHOEBE.) So, are we ready to do this?

(PAIGE nods.)

PHOEBE: Lets go. (They take hands with Phoebe in the middle and PAIGE holding up the yellow tablet with the spell.)

PRUE, PHOEBE, & PAIGE: “Life to life and mind to mind,
our spirits now will intertwine.
We mould our souls and journey to,
The one’s whose thoughts we wish we knew.”

(PAIGE, PHOEBE, and PRUE fall to the ground, unconscious.)

BREAK

[The Virtual Series]

Act Five

[Dream: There’s a knock at the door and PIPER’s head instantly turns towards it. DREAM PRUE looks at DREAM ANDY, smiling.][/b]

DREAM PRUE: Come in!

(The door opens and DREAM PAIGE walks in. PIPER gasps.)

PIPER: Paige?!

DREAM PAIGE: Oh my goodness! (She walks over to the bed and stands next to DREAM PATTY, beaming down at PIPER.) You look so good! (She hugs PIPER and PIPER looks utterly confused.)

PIPER: B-But…

(DREAM PAIGE’s smile is suddenly replaced by a frown.)

DREAM PAIGE: Do you remember me, Piper? (PIPER blinks, trying desperately to remember. ALASTER’s magic obviously beginning to take great effect on her.) We’re best friends, honey. (She holds tilts her head to the side.) I’m Paige Matthews…

PIPER: (murmuring) Sis-sister-

DREAM PAIGE: No. No, Piper, I’m not your sister. (She touches PIPER’s arm gently.) We’re just friends. (She smiles sadly.) We met at P3, Piper. (PIPER stares at DREAM PAIGE blankly.) It was late, I was the last one to go home and you had a dead battery so I offered to give you a jump… (PIPER shakes her head. DREAM PAIGE sighs and pats PIPER’s arm.) In time, honey. I’m sure you’ll remember in time.

[Cut to the hallway. PHOEBE, PAIGE, and PRUE appear outside of the window next to PIPER’s hospital room. PAIGE wobbles for a minute.]

PAIGE: This is definitely new. (She looks around.) Are we in a hospital?

PRUE: It looks like Bay General.

[Scene: MATT’s apartment. Bedroom. A pair of shoes are sitting on the floor next to the bed. The sound of the toilet being flushed is heard and then the bathroom door opens and MATT walks out. He grabs the remote control for his bedroom television from his left nightstands and proceeds to lay on his bed. Suddenly, the nightstand begins to jiggle and shake, causing the lamp to wobble. He hops up and grabs the lamp, steadying it. His eyes flick to the ceiling.]

MATT: Okay, I can take the hint! (The shaking stops and he opens up the drawer, revealing his spirit board. He pulls it out and places it on the bed. Instantly, the pointer spells out, “MANOR.” MATT’s face pales.) What’s going on? (The point spells out, “NOW.” MATT slips on his shoes and hurries out without question.)

[Dream: DREAM ANDY notices the sisters from the window and lets out a little noise.]

PIPER: What? (She looks at DREAM ANDY and then turns her head to follow his line of vision. Suddenly, DREAM PRUE jumps up, blocking her view to the window.)

DREAM PRUE: (to DREAM ANDY) Do you need a drink?

DREAM ANDY: Yeah. (He stands up.) In fact, why don’t I get drinks for everyone? Who wants a drink?

(DREAM PATTY looks at her watch.)

DREAM PATTY: (sadly) Oh, actually, I have to get Leo back. We were only able to bring him here for a few hours to see Piper after we got the news that she was awake. (She stands up and moves around the bed so she can grab the handles of DREAM LEO’s wheelchair. PIPER starts to shake her head.) I’m sorry, sweetheart. But you both need your rest if you want to make any improvements.

(DREAM LEO smiles sadly at PIPER as he reaches out to hold her hand one last time.)

DREAM LEO: I love you.

PIPER: (whimpering) I love you too.

DREAM PATTY: (sympathetically) I’ll see if I can make arrangements to bring Leo over tomorrow…providing you’re up to it.

(PIPER nods as DREAM LEO's hand is pulled from hers as DREAM PATTY maneuvers his wheelchair away from the bed.)

PIPER: Bye, Mom.

DREAM PATTY: Goodbye, sweetheart.

(PIPER’s eyes start to follow DREAM PATTY and DREAM LEO leaving, moving them back towards the window where her real sisters are still visible. Suddenly, DREAM PAIGE leans over and gives PIPER another hug, distracting PIPER's eyes from the window. As PIPER hugs DREAM PAIGE, DREAM PATTY leans over and closes the blinds on the windows.)

DREAM PAIGE: I think it’s time for me to go, too, Piper.

PIPER: But-

DREAM PAIGE: I’ve got a big custody case that I have to get up for very early tomorrow. (She looks PIPER square in the eyes.) The child could get taken away from the mother if I don’t do as my boss says.

(PIPER looks up to see DREAM PRUE and DREAM ANDY nodding in agreement with DREAM PAIGE.)

DREAM ANDY: (to DREAM PAIGE) Why don’t I walk you out? I can grab a couple cups of water for Prue and I on the way.

DREAM PAIGE: Sure! (She smiles and together, they leave. DREAM PRUE sits back down next to PIPER’s bed.)

DREAM PRUE: You want to be able to go home, don’t you, Piper?

(PIPER eagerly nods.)

PIPER: I just…I want this all to be over. (She closes her eyes.) This nightmare, I want it to be over.

DREAM PRUE: I can take you home, Piper, but you have to do one thing first.

PIPER: What?

DREAM PRUE: Forget your fantasy world.

(PIPER looks confused.)

PIPER: But Prue-

DREAM PRUE: (interrupting) Dr. Williamson won’t let you go home until he’s sure you won’t relapse again.

(PIPER seems to hesitate and then she tilts her head to the side.)

PIPER: H-how?

(DREAM PRUE opens a drawer on the stand next to PIPER’s bed and pulls out a writing tablet and pen. She hands them to PIPER.)

DREAM PRUE: During one of the times you woke up, you started to write a poem that you told Dr. Williamson would make you free.

(PIPER looks down at the writing tablet. In her handwriting, the words, “From whence they came,” is written across the top of the tablet.)

PIPER: A spell.

(DREAM PRUE shakes her head.)

DREAM PRUE: A poem, but you called it a spell.

PIPER: Why do you want me to say a spell? (She holds up the tablet.) This spell? (Confusion starts to cloud her eyes again. The door opens and DR. WILLIAMSON walks in. He sees the pad in PIPER’s hands.)

DR. WILLIAMSON: I see you’ve found your poem, Piper.

PIPER: (angrily) Why do you want me to say this?

DREAM PRUE: Piper, please. Calm down and let him speak.

DR. WILLIAMSON: Your mind is still clinging to this fantasy world that you’ve created, Piper. I believe that by saying this poem, or spell as you call it, will allow you to psychologically detach from this imaginary world and let you live in the one you were born into.

(PIPER looks down at the spell and then back up at DR. WILLIAMSON, then to DREAM PRUE.)

DREAM PRUE: Please, Piper…it’s the only way. (PIPER rubs her finger along the first line of the spell.) Try to remember the rest of your poem Piper. If not for me, then for Leo. (She touches PIPER’s arm.) And Mom and Phoebe. (Her eyes land on PIPER’s stomach and she takes PIPER’s hand and places it atop her pregnant belly.) And for your daughter.

(Tears spring from PIPER’s eyes and she nods her head.)

PIPER: O-o-okay. (She takes the pen between her fingers and presses it to the paper.)

[Scene: Manor. Porch. MATT is banging on the door.]

MATT: Prue! (When nobody answers, he holds out his hand and conjures a house key. He slides it into the lock and opens the front door.) Prue! Phoebe! (He heads for the stairs.) Piper!

[Dream: PAIGE stops walking, causing PHOEBE to walk right into her.]

PHOEBE: Ouch! (She steps back and brushes herself off.) What did you do that for?

PAIGE: I thought this was supposed to take us to Piper?

PHOEBE: No, it was a Mind Link Spell that’s supposed to take us to her thoughts, not necessarily to her directly.

PRUE: So, if Alaster is making her believe that she’s in some kind of alternate Bay General, then it took us to her vision of the Bay General that she’s in.

PAIGE: So, how do we go about finding her?

PRUE: What if we go back to the information desk? (to PAIGE) Maybe you could orb her record to us?

DR. WILLIAMSON’s VOICE: I can’t let you do that. (The sisters turn around to see DR. WILLIAMSON standing at the end of the hallway. PHOEBE and PRUE let out a mutual gasp of shock. He smirks.) What’s wrong, girls? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.

(PHOEBE regains her composure.)

PHOEBE: We know who you really are, Alaster. (She takes a step closer to DR. WILLIAMSON.) You can’t get to us.

DR. WILLIAMSON: Oh really? (He steps aside, revealing DREAM ANDY behind him. PRUE freezes as she stares at DREAM ANDY, who appears to be an exact replica of her former lover.)

DREAM ANDY: (to PRUE) Do you want to let me die twice, Prue?

[Scene: Manor. Attic. THE ORACLE appears with her power sucking athame in hand. She smiles as she moves to the bodies of the unconscious Charmed Ones. MATT steps out of the shadows and conjures a throwing star, which he flings at her with precise accuracy. The metal blade slices through the air and makes a perfect slash across THE ORACLE's right arm. She howls in pain and drops the athame. It hits the ground with a clank as she whirls around, grabbing her bleeding wound.]

THE ORACLE: (seething) You!

(MATT smiles cockily as he advances towards her.)

MATT: Miss me?

(THE ORACLE turns slowly as MATT takes step by step towards her.)

THE ORACLE: (growling) Who are you?

(MATT shrugs as another throwing star appears in his hands.)

MATT: Hey, I’m not the psychic here. (He starts to arch around the room, moving towards the circle of candles as THE ORACLE turns around.)

THE ORACLE: (growling) I’ve tried every magical way I know to get a read or vision off of you, but I can’t see anything before the time you made your appearance in the eldest witch’s life. So I ask again…Who. Are. You?!

MATT: Just your friendly neighborhood conjuring witch.

(MATT winks at her. She suddenly dives for the athame on the floor and MATT makes his move, hitting her in the leg with his second throwing star. She yelps, but still manages to grab the athame and throw it at MATT, slicing him across the arm as the athame sales by. He lets out a little grunt as THE ORACLE disappears.)

[Dream: DREAM ANDY is smiling as he advances on PRUE.]

DREAM ANDY: You can’t use your powers on me, can you, Prue? (He gets right up next to her, with their faces inches apart.) I’m right, aren’t I, Prue?

(PRUE nods slowly as their faces begin to close the gap between them.)

PAIGE: Prue, no! (She tries to move to her sister, but the two orderlies that had held PIPER down earlier appear behind her and grab her by the arms, holding her back.) Prue!

PRUE: (to DREAM ANDY) You’re right, I can’t use my powers on Andy… (Her eyes narrow and her voice becomes cold.) But you’re not him!

(PRUE thrusts out her arm and DREAM ANDY sails down the hallway, smashing back first into a stationary metal cart. Behind her, PAIGE elbows one of the orderlies in the gut, causing him to break his hold. Then she orbs out of the grasp of the second orderly, causing him to stumble forward. Meanwhile, PHOEBE gets into a fighting stance and levitates into the air before connecting her feet with DR. WILLIAMSON's gut, causing him to fall to the waxy floor.)

PHOEBE: We can’t beat them, they’re not the physical Alaster. We have to worry about stopping Piper! (PHOEBE and PRUE move to PAIGE.)

PRUE: We need to get to the records, now!

(PAIGE grabs PHOEBE and PRUE’s hands and they orb out.)

[Cut to PIPER’s hospital room. PIPER is writing down the last line of the spell. She writes “our” and DREAM PRUE begins to shake her head.]

DREAM PRUE: “My.”

PIPER: What?

DREAM PRUE: Cross out “our” and put “my,” because you’re not including me in this. This is for you, Piper. (PIPER nods and draws a line through “our” and writes “my” above it, then she writes in “powers.” PIPER takes a deep breath as she looks down at the spell and then grabs the covers and draws them up around herself.) Hurry, Piper. (DREAM PRUE glances over her shoulder.) You want to go home right away, don’t you? And be with me and Mom? In your own bed?

(PIPER nods. Tears begin to form in her eyes and her hands start to shake as she holds the yellow writing tablet.)

DREAM PRUE: It’s alright, honey. Just breathe. It’ll all be over soon.

(PIPER nods and sucks in a deep breath.)

PIPER: “From whence they came,
return them now,
vanish the words,
vanish my powers.”

(PIPER looks at DREAM PRUE, who nods.)

DREAM PRUE: Keep going, Piper.

PIPER: “From whence they came,
return them now,
vanish the words,
vanish my powers.”

PRUE: You’re doing great, sweetie. Just once more! (She squeezes PIPER’s hand.) Then we’ll be able to go home.

PIPER: “From whence they came,
return them now-”

(The door bursts open as PRUE, PHOEBE, and PAIGE barrel in.)

PRUE: Piper, no!

(PIPER looks up and gasps. Her eyes jump between the two PRUEs. PRUE points to DREAM PRUE.)

PRUE: I’m your real sister, Piper. This world (she raises her hands) is a fake! You’re being controlled by a demon named Alaster.

(PIPER starts to cry.)

PIPER: Please, stop! (She hugs her stomach.) I just want my normal life back!

(PHOEBE moves to the bed and envelopes PIPER in a hug.)

PHOEBE: We are your normal life, Piper.

(PAIGE also moves to the bed and joins PHOEBE in the hug.)

PAIGE: We’re your sisters.

(PRUE flings her arm, sending DREAM PRUE out the door, which slams behind the fake. Then she joins her sisters on the bed, also hugging PIPER.)

PRUE: We’re family, Piper, and that’s what’s real.

(Still crying, PIPER leans her head on PRUE’s shoulder.)

PIPER: (whispering) Please, just take me home.

BREAK

[The Virtual Series]

Act Six

[Scene: Joe DiMaggio’s Italian Chophouse. PHOEBE and COLE are at a table, each with a glass of white zinfandel in front of them, and a WAITRESSstanding before them. PHOEBE looks up with a smile.][/b]

PHOEBE: The grilled vegetable platter, please.

(The WAITRESS writes the order down and flicks her gaze to COLE.)

WAITRESS: And you, sir?

COLE: The grilled seafood sampler, please.

WAITRESS: Okay. (She collects the menus.) Your orders will be here soon, and if you need anything else, don’t hesitate to wave me over.

PHOEBE: Thank you. (Once the WAITRESS is out of earshot, PHOEBE turns to COLE and leans close.) So, how did you find Alaster?

COLE: I cashed in a couple favors from a few low level power sensing scavenger demons. With that unique power in play, it wasn’t hard to track him down.

PHOEBE: And you’re sure he’s gone?

COLE: Like I said, he’s not a high level demon. Two energy balls and he was dust, literally.

(PHOEBE touches COLE’s hands.)

PHOEBE: Thank you, Cole. You really helped us today. (COLE smiles.) And… (She beams.) Thank you for dinner.

COLE: I thought it was more your style.

(PHOEBE nods. The WAITRESS walks back up with two plates of steaming food which she sets before the couple.)

[Scene: PAIGE’s apartment. LILA is sitting at PAIGE's mini table, watching OSCAR climb around on the outside of his cage. PAIGE walks up with two cans of soda and sets them on the table. She glances over as OSCAR’s cage.]

LILA: I want one, he’s so cute!

(PAIGE smiles.)

PAIGE: He’s a messy little critter, but in his defense, he is a little joy.

(LILA turns back to PAIGE and grabs one of the cokes.)

LILA: Thank you.

PAIGE: No problem.

(LILA pops the top on the coke.)

LILA: So, what’re you gonna do about the apartment?

(PAIGE gazes around the apartment.)

PAIGE: What can I do? (She taps her fingers along the table.) I don’t want to leave; who really does when they’ve called a place home for the last four years? But the bottom line is, there’s no way I can afford it.

(LILA stares at her friend, unsure of what to say.)

LILA: Maybe you’ll have better luck tomorrow.

PAIGE: Yeah, maybe.

[Scene: MATT’s apartment. Living room. The lights are dim and two wine glasses are sitting half full on the coffee table. PRUE and MATT are on the blue couch. MATT is leaned over slightly, kissing PRUE. Suddenly, PRUE pulls away and MATT looks concerned.]

MATT: Is something wrong?

(PRUE sighs and shakes her head.)

PRUE: No…no. I’m just…not in the mood.

(MATT stares at her and then, after a moment, nods.)

MATT: Okay. (He leans back into the couch cushion.) Do you just want to watch the T.V. or something?

(PRUE nods.)

PRUE: Sure. (MATT gets up and grabs the remote control, before coming back over to the sofa and sitting next to PRUE. He hands it to her and she turns the television on. PRUE glances over at MATT with a sympathetic expression.) I’m sorry, Matt, tonight’s just not a good night.

MATT: No, I understand. It’s okay, it’s fine.

(PRUE leans back and starts to flick through the channels. MATT carefully drapes his arm around her shoulders and PRUE leans into him, laying her head on his shoulder. PRUE places a comforting hand on his arm and then rubs her fingers over the cotton of his shirt, feeling something strange underneath. She glances at MATT and pulls away. Before he can protest, she pulls up his sleeve to reveal the bandage from the cut that THE ORACLE had inflicted with her athame.)

PRUE: What’s this? (She looks up.) What happened?

(MATT shakes his head.)

MATT: It’s nothing.

PRUE: Did this happen today?

MATT: A demon attacked me. (He pulls his arm back and pulls down his sleeve.) She just got a good slice in, that’s all.

(PRUE frowns.)

PRUE: Why didn’t you tell me?

MATT: Do you tell me every time a demon attacks you?

PRUE: That’s different.

MATT: Why? Because you’re a Charmed One?

PRUE: No, but I didn’t try to hide a wound from you.

MATT: I wasn’t trying to hide anything, I just didn’t think it was important to tell you. (He shrugs.) Believe me, if I wanted to hide something from you, you wouldn’t find out about it.

[Scene: Bay General. Waiting room. LEO is sitting in one of the chairs, his light blue eyes flicking between the clock and the hallway leading towards the exam rooms.]

[Cut to PIPER’s examination room. PIPER is sitting on the bed, staring down at the floor. Suddenly, the door starts to open and PIPER slowly raises her hands, only to see DR. AVA NICOLAE enter. PIPER pulls her hands back down to her lap.]

PIPER: So, is there anything you can do for my migraines?

DR. NICOLAE: I’d suggest a lot of rest, no stress, and (she scribbles something onto a prescription sheet and tears it off) here is a light prescription if the pain persists. I must say though, I am surprised they’ve hit you this hard this fast.

(PIPER takes the prescription sheet and stands up.)

PIPER: Do you mean it wasn’t just the stress?

DR. NICOLAE: For what?

PIPER: That was causing my migraines.

(DR. NICOLAE tilts her head to the side, examining PIPER. Then she holds out her hand.)

DR. NICOLAE: I’m sorry, I didn’t realize you didn’t know.

PIPER: Excuse me?

DR. NICOLAE: Congratulations, Mrs. Halliwell, you’re pregnant.

[The Virtual Series]

End Credits

Co-Starring
Becky Wahlstrom --- Lila Wright
Emmanuelle Vaugier --- Dr. Ava Nicolae
Doris Roberts --- Barbara Kennedy

Featuring
Eric Ware --- Orderly #1
Tom Billett --- Orderly #2
Marisa Lauren --- Receptionist
Ahn Jae-Mo --- Waiter
Lynn Tufeld --- Waitress
James Wellington --- Flashback Demon
Carlo Castronovo --- Marvin

Production & Design
Daniel (Forever Yours) - Co-Casting Director
Camille (Fourever Charmed) - Co-Casting Director
Alex (Combustion) - Video Editor (Credits)
Alex (Combustion) - Set Designer